Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of October 1st, 2012: ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Wayne, our Managing Editor, wish he could exist in multiple parallel universes so he could check them all out.

Already Covered by MoT

AMALUNA (Cirque du Soleil). Acrobatics, music, dance and design are used to look at femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance on a mystical island governed by women. Opens Sep 6 and runs to Nov 4. $58.50-$158.50, stu/srs/child from $43.50. Grand Chapiteau Tent, Port Lands, Commissioners at Cherry. cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA by William Shakespeare (Theatre Elusive). The classic tale of love and conquest is brought to life as a testament to female power. Opens Sep 26 and runs to Oct 6. $25, stu $20, Fri pwyc. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555.

AVENUE Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and works through the transition to adulthood in this musical puppet show. Opens Jun 22 and runs to Oct 7. $45-$60. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

BETWEEN THE SHEETS by Jordi Mand (Nightwood Theatre). A parent-teacher interview unravels into a high-stakes drama about family. Previews Sep 18-19. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 7. $13-$40. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, nightwoodtheatre.net.

**DEATH OF A SALESMAN by Arthur Miller (Soulpepper). Having lost his job in his twilight years, a man confronts his failure to achieve the American dream. Previews Sep 5-7. Opens Sep 8 and runs to Oct 6. $32-$68. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

FEBRUARY by Lisa Moore (Alumnae Theatre). A woman deals with the death of her husband when an offshore drilling unit sinks off the Newfoundland coast. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Oct 6. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. 70 Berkeley. 416-364-4170, alumnaetheatre.com.

JITTERS by David French (Stage Centre Productions). This play-within-a-play looks at the comedic catastrophes of opening night. Opens Sep 27 and runs to Oct 6. $27.50, stu/srs $22. York Woods Library Theatre, 1785 Finch W. 416-299-5557, stagecentreproductions.com.

NO GREAT MISCHIEF by David S Young (Tarragon Theatre). Haunted by stories and songs of their Scottish ancestry, two brothers seek to reconcile their past. Previews Sep 11-18. Opens Sep 19 and runs to Oct 21. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

OBAABERIMA by Tawiah M’Carthy (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Imprisoned in Canada, a young Ghanaian talks of his journey across continents, genders, races and sexualities. Previews Sep 15-19. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 7. Pwyc-$37. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

**PROUD by Michael Healey (Sue Edworthy). A conservative Prime Minister trains a rookie MP to promote his agenda in the third of Healey’s trilogy of plays about Canadian values. Previews Sep 20-21. Opens Sep 22 and runs to Oct 6. $25-$40, Mon pwyc. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, proudtheplay.com.

ROSENCTRANZ AND GUILDENSTERN Are Dead by Tom Stoppard (Hart House Theatre). This absurdist comedy follows the antics of two minor characters from Hamlet. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Oct 6. $25, stu/srs $10-$15. 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, harthousetheatre.ca.

WAR HORSE based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford (National Theatre of Great Britain/Mirvish). An English boy sets out to find his horse after it’s sold to the cavalry and shipped off to France during WWI. Previews Feb 10-27. Opens Feb 28 and runs to Nov 4. $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

WE’VE TOTALLY (PROBABLY) GOT THIS! Second City presents its fall 2012 revue featuring new sketches, songs and improv about stress and juggling priorities. Wed-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm (plus Fri-Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

And the rest…

ABILITIES ARTS FESTIVAL (AAF). The festival celebrating diversity, inclusion and accessibility features a multimedia Nuit Blanche installation, stories told through podcast plays, film and more. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 11. $8-$25, many events free. Various venues. abilitiesartsfestival.org.

DIE FLEDERMAUS by Johann Strauss II (Canadian Opera Company). A woman gets revenge on her philandering husband in this comic operetta. Opens Oct 4 and runs to Nov 3. $12-$325. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

EGG ZEPPELIN returns to Comedy Bar for more MUSIC, BACON and COMEDY with special guests Matt Folliot, stand-up Heidi Brander and musical guest Spookey Ruben, OcT. 3rd @ 8pm Comedy Bar – 945 Bloor St  $12/$10 student baddogtheatre.com

FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY (Angelwalk Theatre) unites two of Toronto’s most electrifying musical theatre stars, Justin Bott and Kelly Holiff at The Toronto Centre for the Arts in the Studio Theatre on October 3, 2012. $30 Angelwalk.ca

HARBOURKIDS: FOLK (Harbourfront Centre). This all-ages festival about going back to one’s roots features an adaptation of Evalyn Parry’s bicycle play, SPIN, a musical play based on a First Nations legend and more. Oct 6-8. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

IL TROVATORE by Giuseppe Verdi (Canadian Opera Company). A troubadour and his rival woo a noblewoman while a gypsy plots revenge in this tragic opera. Opens Sep 29 and runs to Oct 31. $12-$325. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

ISMAT APA KE NAAM based on short stories by Ismat Chughtai (Why Not Theatre). Visiting Bollywood actors perform a trio of monologues about taboos and relationships in Urdu/Hindi with English surtitles. Oct 5-7. $44-$88, stu $22. Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre, 585 Dundas E. 1-800-838-3006, beyondbollywood.ca.

REVEAL ME (Red Herring Burlesque). Virgin vixens and professional peelers put on a show. Jul 4 at 8 pm. Aug 1 at 8 pm. Sep 5 at 8 pm. Oct 3 at 8 pm. $10. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. aprofessionaldistraction.com.

SEASON 2012 ProArteDanza and Harbourfront NextSteps presents modern pieces by Roberto Campanella, Kevin O’Day and Robert Glumbek. Opens Oct 3 and runs to Oct 6. $22-$39, stu/srs $20-$34. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

SISTER ACT (Mirvish) a wannabe diva’s life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent! Oct. 2 – Nov. 4, $35-$130, Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St., Mirvish.com

THE FINE ART OF MURDER (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). This dinner-theatre whodunit features a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Dec 29. $66-$71. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME (Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre). Artists of the U of T Opera Division perform highlights from their 2012/13 season. Oct 3 at noon. Free. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. coc.ca.

VACANT by Fraser Elsdon (Triangle Pi Productions). This play looks at morality, relationships and the search for authenticity in digital-age Toronto. Previews Oct 3. Opens Oct 4 and runs to Oct 13. $15, stu $12, preview pwyc. Alumnae Theatre, Studio, 70 Berkeley. totix.ca.